Tessera

I've been posting most of my tweets from X onto Bluesky as well since last November, but the engagement rate is still tiny and even declining. I have plenty of followers so I don’t understand this app. Thank you to the loyal few who supported me here, but it’s not worth the time to continue.

The Russians throw 3kg TNT demolition charges with a length of delay fuze every 5 meters into the Dnepr River, to clear Ukrainian mines or IEDs. They do this to maintain their access to occupied river islands near Kherson. t.me/Pioneer_ethe...

The Russians use a UGV loaded with EW jammers to try to protect against Ukrainian FPVs, as they work on erecting a road net tunnel. t.me/rogozin_do/7...

The Russians ask: “Why is it so important to destroy Baba Yaga, Vampires?” They report that Ukrainian thermobaric bombs like this 9kg MOA-900 have devastating effects on dugouts. 1/

Ukrainian TM-62M anti-tank landmines continue to be used as powerful blast dugout-busting drone bombs. A length of delay fuze ending in a detonator is ignited when dropped from a heavy drone.

Ukrainian TM-62M anti-tank landmines make powerful blast bombs when modified to be dropped by a heavy drone. The igniter pull-tab of a length of safety (delay) fuze is tethered to the drone. The fuze leads to a detonator and explosive in the fuze well of the landmine.

The distinctive sound of a Russian FPV is heard, like an angry lethal Hornet on the other side of the safety of a Ukrainian road net tunnel.

Ukraine has published a manual of standardized, detailed instructions for building anti-FPV road net tunnels. Two main designs are covered, one for up to 20km from the front where the risk of FPV attacks on the construction unit is acute, and another for greater than 20km. 1/

The Russians claim that the trailer towed by the ATV contained a wounded man being evacuated, and that he survived the successive landmine blasts. The landmines were placed on the road by Ukrainian drones.

In addition to precision mining of Russian logistical routes, Ukrainian heavy drones mine the anticipated attack routes before expected Russian assaults. Here the fate of four Ukrainian TM-62 anti-tank landmines precision dropped by drones is followed.

The Russians refer to Ukraine’s Pervomaiskyi Island as “Fortress Island”. Located in the mouth of the Dnepr River, it controls shipping to Kherson and Mykolaiv. Described as deeply fortified and completely autonomous, the Russians consider it a key base for Ukrainian Special Operations.

A Russian volunteer 3D printer explains why there has been so little progression to casting or stamping components for drone munitions in the war's 4th year. “We are periodically told that we are printing something wrong. That it should be like this, or better yet, like that. 1/

A Russian “Chernika-2” (Черніка-2; Blueberry-2) kamikaze UAV was recovered that apparently has autonomous terminal targeting capability. This cheap foam and plastic UAV has a 100km range and carries a formidable 3.5kg warhead. 1/

The Ukrainian company DevDroid has expanded their “Ravlyk” logistics UGV into the “Droid Raw 12.7” The vehicle integrates the Wolly 12.7 combat module with the US-made M2 Browning 12.7mm machine gun. Targets can be engaged at ranges of up to 1 kilometer. 1/

The Russians are also increasing their use of FPVs as bombers. The cameras of bomber FPVs typically swivel down 90°. t.me/serhii_flash...

Mavic drones pioneered the light bomber drone in Ukraine, and have been a lethal anti-personnel weapons system. More and more, FPVs with their greater capacity have been configured as bombers. Here a Ukrainian FPV carries six VOG grenade bombs, compared to a Mavic limit of two.

The Russians test a thermal blanket intended for remaining obscure to nighttime drones. They find the design is quite awkward to move in. t.me/projectArcha...

Russian antennas for WiFi data communication continue to be targeted and destroyed by Ukrainian FPVs. As these antennas are part of line-of-sight connections, a whole sector could lose communication with the loss of a central node. t.me/serhii_flash...

Ukrainian drone units have Starlink internet, allowing exchange of critical video imagery between Mavics, FPVs, unit commanders, and HQs. Russians drone operators have to rely on line-of-site WiFi bridges, and distinctive antennas pointed horizontally mark their nearby positions.

A Ukrainian company called UADamage has developed a machine-learning drone that uses four different sensors to detect landmines. With day and infrared cameras, a magnetometer, and a ground penetrating radar (in development), up to 10,000 square meters can surveyed in a day. 1/

A Russians disassembles a Ukrainian PVP-50 (ПВП-50) anti-personnel directional landmine. It logically copies the successful design of the Russian MON-50, which in turn was copied from the legendary American M-18A1 Claymore. 1/

The Ukrainian new production directional mine PVP-50, based on the Russian MON-50.

A Ukrainian Wisent 1 MC armored engineering vehicle impaled a TM-62M anti-tank landmine on its mine plow. If the MVCh-62 pressure fuze had been struck on the top the landmine might have exploded. t.me/VIUKSIDV/56183

Russian “Shahed-136” kamikaze UAVs are routinely equipped with modems for connecting to Ukrainian mobile networks. Previously Ukrainian “Kyivstar” SIM cards were used, and later cards from Kazakhstan operators. Recently the UAVs are equipped with unmarked Russian-made SIM cards.

Recent downed Russian Shahed-136 UAVs have a new serial production 3G/LTE modem module for transmitting telemetry and location data. Other applications are possible such as video with the addition of a camera, or accessing location information via RTK as in the quote. 1/

An innocuous pressure plate sensor for a Ukrainian VOIED (Victim Operated Improvised Explosive Device) is demonstrated. Closing the split branch brings metal wires into contact and completes an electrical circuit. This action will initiate an electric detonator. t.me/VIUKSIDV/56179

Two Russian FPVs are shot down by a Ukrainian FPV armed with Ukrainian-made Ptashka net launchers.

A new double barreled FPV net launcher by the Ukrainian company Ptashka. Two lightweight net launchers are intended for both active hunting or equipment protection from Russian fiber optic FPVs. t.me/wunderfpv/443

A Russian blogger insists that reports of Ukraine being short of drones are disinformation. “Guys, about the news that the crests have a shortage of drones. They write a lot about it and it seems that many do not understand that such news only hinders us. 1/

This time a Russian “Quad the Impaler” FPV successfully downed a Ukrainian A1-CM “Furia” reconnaissance UAV. t.me/rodnaya98vdd...

A Ukrainian “Domakha” (Домаха) reconnaissance UAV is impaled by a Russian FPV, but apparently survives when the Russian pulls out. t.me/war_home/4572

GPS trackers are also being used on Ukrainian “Vampire” heavy drones. The Russians lack organic heavy drone lift and covet salvaged “Baba Yagas”, so they have learned that they must disable this device before moving their prize.

Ukrainian FPV with a GPS module allows tracking of the drone in real time via a mobile network. Even if communication is lost it can be determined where it fell. A separate battery will transmit intermittently for up to a year. t.me/VictoryDrone...

“Drone war is not the future, it is yesterday.” A Russian blogger gives advice on surviving under the constant gaze of Mavic drones. “How to survive under the ‘bird’: the fight against small surveillance UAVs. 1/

A Ukrainian soldier is preparing TM-62M anti-tank landmines for dropping by a “Vampire” heavy drone. The MVCh-62 fuze is stripped of its mechanism and instead holds a “Jonik” electronic magnetic-influence fuze. An electric detonator is placed through the side of the fuze hole.

“But FPVs can’t cross the Taiwan Strait!” They definitely can, via China’s immense fleet of fishing vessels (~500,000) The Maritime Militia, often called the “3rd Fleet of the PRC”, is under the direct control of Beijing.

“They are preparing for a long war.” Russia has expanded its strategic missile plant at Votinsk, buying advanced equipment to significantly increase missile production. Sanctions were evaded by acquiring the equipment, via intermediaries, from China, Belarus, and Taiwan. 1/

Ukrainian fortifications have changed greatly from battalion defense areas with huge strongholds that were used at the beginning of the war. General Syrskyi explained that after the experiences of the defense of Bakhmut the army moved to company strongholds, then platoon ones. 1/

The Russians are alarmed that Unmanned Systems Forces head “Madyar” has made drone operators his main target. Urgent recommendations are to use large numbers of decoy antennas, maximize the distance between operators and antennas, and to separate operators and engineers. 1/

The Russians have confirmed that per Madyar's changes to the points system for drone units that attacks on Russian drone crews has greatly intensified, and has concurrently eased off on logistics forces. Special attention is apparently being paid to fiber optic FPV operators.